Women Cricket: Mithali Raj scored 10k international runs; Sachin tweets on her achievement

Mithali Raj is known as the “Sachin Tendulkar of Indian Women’s Cricket” for her long career career, Mithali Raj is the only second female player in the world to score 10,000 international runs during the third ODI with the women of South Africa on Friday.

The 38-year-old Raj, who is in her 22nd year of international cricket, made her debut for India in June 1999 when the Indian men’s team was still led by Mohammad Azharuddin and the 1999 World was out just days before her debut. The cup was in the Super Six stage.

“As far as skill levels are concerned, you can develop as you go forward. But such a long career requires discipline and dedication, which is reflected in the fact that cricket Playing, scoring and putting in hard yards even when not, ”Anju Chopra, Raj’s former teammate who watched her first film.

“Unlike men’s cricket, women’s cricket does not happen often. So there are stages where there is no cricket. Despite the fact that she is able to sustain himself for so long. All the same but she added more skills Such as using long handles.

Dedication and discipline are required to follow the day-to-day routine, especially if you are a woman advancing the sport in India. It is commendable, “Chopra, who represented India in 127 ODIs, 12 Tests and 18 T20 Internationals.

Raj scored a century in that ODI debut in Milton Keynes vs Ireland, scoring 114 runs and fellow player Reshma Gandhi scored 104 and India won by 161 runs.

Both made some records during that partnership.

“Mithali included in the playing eleven after regular players failed in the previous matches. So they thought why not try new players. Good opportunity given to her. ” Her unbeaten opening partnership of 258 with Raj was a world record.

With age, one get reflexes and slow down but the great thing with Mithali is that she is technically strong and still has patience.”

Raj has so far scored 6,974 runs in ODI cricket at an average of 50.53, 2,364 runs in T20Is at 37.52 and 663 runs in Test cricket at 51.00.

She has also scored 75 half-centuries and eight centuries.

Former Indian women’s team captain Diana Edulji said, “Indian women’s cricket team captain Diana Edulji said,” I could not even imagine if I was honest. A woman will score 10,000 international runs in cricket. In Secunderabad. Edulji gave him a job in the railway with a waiver, even though Raj was not yet 18 years old.

“I knew her caliber when she was a youngster. She knew she had the potential to grow up. She played years under me, and I’m glad that Charlotte Edwards (only others) was one of the top Indians. Is. 10,000 international runs scored), “said Edulji, whose international career lasted from 1976 to 1993.

Edulji says that Raj’s greatest quality is her temperament and patience.

Speaking to IANS, Edulji said, “The temperament, patience and determination to stay on the wicket and score runs. She had a great appetite for runs.” “Off the field, she loved sleeping. It was her best pastime.”

Raj has played quite a few innings throughout her career. Her biggest test knock was in 2002, when she scored 214 against England at Taunton. She is her only Test century apart from four fifties.

But it is in ODIs that she has a record – 212 centuries with seven centuries and 54 fifties.

Also in T20Is, she has scored 17 fifties in 89 matches.

Sachin Tendulkar too tweeted on the milestone.

“Heartiest congratulations Mithali on completing 10,000 runs in International Cricket. Terrific achievement… (Emoticon: clapping hands). Keep going strong,” tweeted Tendulkar.

Tendulkar’s former teammate V.V.S. Laxman also tweeted admiration for Raj.

“Congratulations @M_Raj03 on becoming the first Indian Woman Cricketer to score 10K runs! You are not only a great ambassador and a legend of the game but you have inspired a generation of cricketers to take up our sport. Proud of you. Thumbs up. #INDWvSAW @BCCI,” tweeted Laxman.

Raj is India’s all-time highest run scorer in ODIs and T20Is and the fourth highest in Tests behind Sandhya Agarwal (1,110 runs), Shanta Rangaswamy (750) and Shubhangi Kulkarni (700).

Former England captain Edwards was the only woman to have scored more than 10,000 runs in international cricket before Raj.

Edwards, 41, retired from international cricket in May 2016 and later retired from all forms of the game in September 2017. She scored 5,992 runs in 191 ODIs, 2,605 runs in 95 T20Is and 1,676 runs in 23 Tests.